The first building used for the production of stage plays in
Wolverhampton was the ancient Town Hall, which up to the year 1779
occupied a site in the centre of the old Market Place, now called Queen
Square. After the old Town Hall was pulled down a new and more
commodious theatre was erected at the extreme end of the yard at the
back of the old Swan Hotel, bounded by King Street on one side, and
separated only by the narrow passage known as Wheeler's Fold, from the
Noah's Ark Chapel in Lichfield Street, and in which Wesley preached
during some of his visits to Wolverhampton. The building was a plain but
substantial brick structure, and the interior of the theatre was almost
as plain as the exterior, the seating accommodation providing for an
audience of about 700. Small as the place was, yet at the time of the
erection it was considered a good-sized edifice for Wolverhampton, with
its then population of less than 12,000. Amongst those who delighted
audiences at the old theatre in Swan Yard may be mentioned the well
known Mrs. Siddens, and her equally talented brother, John Philip Kemble;
the celebrated comedians, Mr. Emery and Mr. W. Farren; the "Young
Roscius" (Master Betty), Charles Matthews the elder, Charles Kemble, the
two Keans (father and son), the great Macready, Mr. Chippendale, and the
long popular Madame Vestris. The first manager of the theatre of which
there is any record was a Mr. Crisp, who held that position from about
the year 1809 to 1820, and he was succeeded by a Mr. Shuter, but at the
end of two years he also retired, and the place was closed. In 1823 it
was re-opened by Mr. Bennett (conjointly with Mrs. Beahan), and this
year the theatre was first lighted with gas. Mr. Bennett made himself
popular with theatre-goers, and during the seventeen years he continued
to hold the post of manager, he enjoyed on the whole a fair run of good
luck.

An old playbill in the possession of Mr. Wm. Lowe Fleeming, Queen
Square, dated November 12th, 1830, records a benefit for Mr. Young, at
that time a celebrated tragedian. The play presented was Macklin's
comedy, "The Man of the World," Mr. Young taking the leading character;
concluding with the farce, "The Blue Devils." Prices for admission
were:- Boxes, 3/-; pit, 2/-; gallery, 1/-; with a concluding notice that
"nothing under FULL PRICES. can possibly be taken to any part of the
house."

About the year 1840 a general desire was expressed for the erection
of a new building of a more commodious character, and on a more suitable
site, and in the month of September, 1841, a meeting was held at the
Pack Horse, Dudley Street, for the purpose of promoting a company for
that purpose. The capital to be subscribed was fixed at £3,000, in £1
shares, and in order to interest the public in the movement, an amateur
dramatic entertainment was given in the old theatre, the use of which
was lent for the occasion by the veteran lessee and manager, Mr.
Bennett, this being the last theatrical performance given in the "old
theatre in the Swan Yard." The foundation stone of the "Theatre Royal,"
in Cleveland Road, was laid in the month of June, 1844, and the opening
ceremony took place on Easter Monday, 1845, under the lesseeship of Mr.
James Munro, with Mr. James Bennett, a good Shakespearean actor in those
days, as manager. The builder was Mr. Robinson, who then carried on
business in Castle Street, and amongst those who took a leading part in
carrying out the scheme were Sir Rupert Kettle, Henry Walker, F. Walton,
C. Sparrow, Geo. Wynn, R. S. Walker, Brotherton, Merrick, and
Tichborne.

Old Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton.

On the opening night every part of the house was
filled, the dress circle and upper boxes being occupied by
representatives of the leading families of Wolverhampton and
neighbourhood. The principal piece selected for performance on
the occasion was Shakespeare's comedy, "The Merchant of Venice."
Preceding the performance, an opening address, specially written
for the occasion, was delivered by Mrs. Rignold, mother of the
well known actor of that name.

But whatever the hopes and anticipations of the original promoters of
the Theatre Royal may have been, as to the success of their venture in
the future, they were early doomed to disappointment, for in little more
than twelve months after the opening, the season had to be brought to a
premature termination, and the lessee (Mr. Munro), in a brief address to
a thinly-attended house, expressed "the disappointment he had
experienced that the efforts he put forth to cater for the theatrical
tastes of the town had been so scantily appreciated, with the result
that the last season had been the most disastrous he had ever had to
encounter in the whole of his long experience as a theatrical manager."
But better days Were in store. Mr. Henry Hayward, member of a well-known
local musical family, took on the theatre for a time for the purpose. of
giving a series of first class concerts, but the speculation was barely
profitable, and again the theatre was closed, to be re-opened in the
August race week of 1847 by Messrs. Charles Dillon (the great tragedian)
and Henry Widdicombe (comedian). The bill of fare was a varied one, and
partook more of the melodramatic style than that of high-class pieces.
Messrs. Dillon and Widdicombe succeeded in meeting the popular taste,
and it was under their management that the great Macready visited the
town "for one night only," delighting the lovers of Shakespeare with his
masterly impersonation of "Othello," with Mr. Charles Dillon as "Iago,"
and Mrs. Dillon in the character of "Desdemona." Mr. Dillon also played
"Iago" to the "Othello" of the eminent tragedian, Gustavus Vaughan
Brooke, who first visited Wolverhampton in May, 1848. It will be
remembered by a few that the great actor was a passenger on board the
ill-fated steamship "London," which went down in mid-ocean with nearly
the whole complement of souls on board, including Mr. Brooks. Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Kean made their first and only appearance at the
Wolverhampton Theatre in 1848, in the "Wife's Secret" and "Paul Pry."

On the retirement of Messrs. Dillon and Widdicombe from the
lesseeship, the theatre was taken in hand by different managers, with
varied successes. One manager, Mr. Henry Powell, crippled for want of
funds, tried the desperate expedient of lowering the prices, and to a
3d. gallery and a 6d. pit, produced for each night's performance the
following:

THE LAST ACT OF "RICHARD III.

followed by

THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN

and concluding with

DRED; OR THE DISMAL SWAMP

But the audiences became more attenuated every week, and the band
striking for arrears of pay, accompanied with threats from the Gas
Company to cut off the supply, the manager threw up the sponge, and the
theatre was again closed. In 1870, Mr. Brewster, lessee of the then
Prince of Wales's Concert Hall, took the Royal in hand, and thoroughly
renovated and re-decorated the house, Mr. H. C. Hazlewood acting as
manager. But playing one house against another was not a great success,
and in 1877 Mr. Brewster retired from the lesseeship of the Royal, and
it passed for a short time under the management of a Mr. Birrell. But in
1878 the old house was once more shut up, and the building was put up in
the market for sale. Eventually a number of gentlemen formed themselves
into a joint stock company, and were successful in raising sufficient
funds for purchasing the building, the result being that on the night of
the 5th August, 1878, the place was re-opened under the most gratifying
auspices and with every promise of a successful career, the late Lady
Wrottesley occupying the place of place of honour in the dress circle,
surrounded by a numerous and well-dressed assemblage of ladies and,
gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood.

As is well known, our new Free Library now occupies the site of the
old Theatre Royal, consequently the prophetic tone of the writer in the
"Wolverhampton Chronicle," of December 12th, 1894, is of interest.
Concluding a series of interesting articles on matters theatrical in
Wolverhampton, he says "Those who were present in the theatre on
Saturday night, when the curtain was rung down for the last time, must
have felt a pang of regret that a house in which they have spent so many
enjoyable hours, will henceforth pass away to other, and perhaps baser
and less elevating, uses."

The new Grand Theatre, in Lichfield Street, was opened on December
10th, 1894.

It had a most magnificent "send off," local
society being led by the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman C. T. and
Mrs. Mander). Everyone felt bound to admire the new palatial
temple, and when the lessee, Mr. Bull, essayed to address a few
words to his first night patrons, he seemed quite overwhelmed
with the warmth and the cordiality of the reception accorded
him. During the course of his little speech, he said: "I should
like to ask you one question: Are you satisfied with this
beautiful theatre ?" And there was a general. chorus from all
parts of the crowded house "We are." Mr. Bull's concluding
remarks were pointed. "I am going to try," he said, "to make
this theatre a success. I cannot do it alone. I ask you to come
and rally round. Support your own town, and leave foreign
Birmingham severely alone." D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company gave
the first performance in the new Grand Theatre, the piece
selected being "Utopia Limited; or The Flowers of Progress," and
was enthusiastically received.

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Under the capable management of Mr. Percy Percival, the Grand Theatre
is enjoying a most successful career. Mr. Percival came to Wolverhampton
in June, 1901, and it has always been his aim to put upon the stage the
higher class plays of the most celebrated writers, and of seizing every
opportunity that presents itself of securing for their exposition the
leading actors and actresses of the day, with all the accessories of
good scenery and other stage effects. By these and other means he has
made himself exceedingly popular, and that success will continue to
crown his efforts is the hearty wish of every lover of the drama.

Bookings. since Mr. Percy Percival has managed the theatre have
included the following:- Sir Henry Irving, Mr. and Mrs. Kendal, Miss
Julia Neilson and Mr. Fred Terry, Mr. Edward Compton, Miss Fortescue,
Miss Florence St. John, Mr. Beerbohm Tree's companies, Mr. George
Edwardes' companies, Mr. George Dance's companies, Mr. Charles Frohman's
companies, Mr. Frank Curzon's companies, Frederick Mouillot's companies,
Mr. Milton Bode's companies, Mr. Henry Dundas's companies, Royal Carl
Rosa - Opera company, Mr. F. R. Benson's Shakespearean repertoire
company, D'Oyly Carte's opera companies, Mr. Tom Davis's companies. All
the latest London successes are presented at the earliest possible date.
The Grand Theatre is unique for the size of its stage; the greatest
productions can be staged with ease. The proscenium is fitted with a
patent fire-resisting curtain, forming an effective fire-proof division
between the stage and the auditorium. The curtain is constructed of
wrought-iron framing, which is fitted with double plates of the best
quality asbestos, the total thickness of the curtain being 4.25in. A
strong brick wall has been built from the basement to the stage level,
on which the curtain rests when down, and this, with the proscenium wall
(which is carried up some eight feet above the roof line) forms a
perfectly fire-proof division. The exits are numerous, and easy of
access, and the theatre can be emptied in a remarkably short space of
time.

At the general meeting of the shareholders of the Wolverhampton New
Theatre Company, Ltd., held at Wolverhampton, on Thursday, March 2nd, it
was agreed to declare a dividend of 5 per cent. less income tax. A vote
of thanks was accorded to Mr. T. J. Barnett (secretary), who, in reply,
said the result showed that the company had a sound commercial property.
Mr. H. Percy Smith was appointed auditor.